Bhagwatspeak: Amend the Constitution and make Ram temple

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What he said

• Ram Mandir is a question of Hindu belief and culture

• The temple must be built; amend the Constitution if needed

More in the story

• \'Will the poor get food if the temple comes up?\'

• Political reaction to the sarsanghchalak\'s statement

The Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir dispute, it seems, will never die. In his latest memoir, released Thursday, President Pranab Mukherjee critiqued the way the Rajiv Gandhi government handled the issue.

Worryingly, the same day Rashtriya Swayamseva Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat once again said the Constitution of India should be amendment to expedite the construction of the temple.

According to Bhagwat, who was interacting with some students at Pune's MIT School of Government, the amendment was necessary to uphold Indian culture and tradition.

Also read: How Modi 'admirer' Ashok Singhal has gone soft on Ram Mandir

But "will the poor get enough food if the temple is constructed"? When a student posed this question to him, the sarsanghchalak replied: "Are the poor getting enough food when the Ram temple is not there?"

Bhagwat claimed the entire world has recognised that Lord Ram is the symbol of Hindu culture and civilisation. "It is not a matter of just building a temple. It is a question of Hindu belief and culture. There is no harm in constructing the temple."

As expected, the statement sparked a debate. "True that the Constitution has laid down procedure to amend itself, but no one can disturb its core. And that's what the RSS is trying to do," Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Nawab Malik said.

Also read: Portents of a hate storm: beware defenders of DU #RamMandirSeminar

"It is an effort to impose a communal agenda, but we will not let that happen. The BJP has been in power at the Centre for more than a year. What has it done to provide enough food to the poor? The Ram temple issue is pending in court. We must wait for the verdict and everyone must accept it," he said.

The Ram Mandir issue was not the only one that Bhagwat touched at the Pune student's meet - Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad. When a student raised the issue of communalisation of politics, he said: It was not his concern.

"Those practicing such things should answer. As I said, we should do what we preach and should talk what we think. This is the only way to bring about the desired change in the society."

Also read: December 6: Ram Mandir, a commitment or convenience for the BJP?